Monday, December 30, 2013

Here's a photo of me taken earlier in December for the Advent of the Dress project on facebook. A fabulous green 60s square dance dress trimmed in layers of white lace. I paired it with black vintage cowboy boots but of course Lucy's derriere is in the way.

Here is a more sedate dress - 40s black crepe with wonderful collar and cuff details - sadly the photo isn't very clear and the dress is so damaged that it's not really wearable (it looks like someone stabbed the poor thing while it was folded - lots of 2" cuts). The tiara style mink and velvet ring hat however is so easy to mix and match with vintage and contemporary clothing that it has gotten a lot of wear while it's still in my possession (It is for sale in my ebay shop)!

The Christmas season is hands down my favorite holiday. I love being able to unwrap all of my favorite ornaments and decorations. So many of them bring back wonderful memories.

Since we got Lucy we're sticking with a small table top tree!

My collection of Swarovski crystal snowflakes started years ago with this one - a gift from my mom. Also shown - Holly, my 1960s Italian glass ornament and a darling Scandinavian wooden ornament of a cat and bird with their own tree (found with my mom at the bins)

A collection of English, German and American blue ornaments from the 1880s to the 1950s.

The blue tree (above) has long been a favorite of mine. I started the collection of antique blue ornaments when I was still living in Baltimore in the early 90s. This was probably one of my first "grown-up" collections. I lucked out finding the bottle brush/feather tree with the wide wooden base at Big Lots. This collection and tree has moved with me all over the country and for years was the only tree I put up.

My grandparent's 1930s-40s chalkware nativity

Lucy and her gift

Poudre and his gift

Christmas dinner!! We decided to eat in the kitchen as it was only three of us, and honestly, eating in the dining room would've meant I had to find a new home for my sewing machine! Dinner consisted of a rib roast, scalloped potatoes (from scratch), asparagus and broccoli. I started the tradition of the English Crackers years ago thinking the boys would get a kick out of them and now at 18 and 11 they still love them. Our bottle of wine was a special treat - Opus One 2009!!

Cookies made by the 11 year old and I, home made rum cake and curried pecans for dessert.

Would you like the mink ring hat? It is really fabulous, easy to wear and right now it's on sale (only $15.20)

Sunday, December 1, 2013

It's been a whirlwind around here for the last month but I did get a photo of me in my Thanksgiving dress! It was pure luck that on Tuesday the 26th I stopped into my favorite thrift store just in time to spot this deadstock beauty! The dress has gathers at the shoulders (very 1940s-ish), a nice V neckline and a very full skirt. Even better - it's marked a Tall so the sleeves actually fit the length of my arms - a rarity in vintage dresses.

I paired the dress with my 70s lace-up Frye boots that I purchased about 6 years ago on ebay. Wore my hair in a flip and was ready to party!

James and I spend Thanksgiving with our dear friends Pete and Julianne and their enormous extended families. We brought green bean casserole and a rum cake - items that are requested every year!

For those of you who love wearing dresses there is a new challenge on Facebook - Advent of the Dress. Loads of vintage sellers and aficionados are participating, but it isn't limited to vintage dresses only - modern dresses are more than welcome. The challenge is to wear a dress every day for the month of December and snap a picture! Stop by and take a gander (and check out lots of great vintage shops) or, even more fun....join in and add a dress a day from your wardrobe.

Need a new vintage frock...or some fabulous Frye boots of your own? The Magnolia Collection is having a 35% off CYBER MONDAY SALE.....and it started today! The Magnolia Collection